Podcasting is booming—and it’s because people want more interesting content than they can get from traditional media. Podcasts cover everything: history, comedy, politics, and even science. And with the latest technology, it’s easier than ever to listen on the go.
There are tons of apps out there for listening to podcasts. Some of them are great, and others are just okay. But we’ve spent hours listening to podcasts through all kinds of different apps for iOS and Android to find out what really works—and which ones you’ll want to avoid at all costs.
Here are our top picks for the best podcast apps for every platform!
Best Apps For Podcasts
The best podcast apps let you listen to a variety of shows on many devices. Narisara Nami/Getty Images
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
Audible
Stitcher
TuneIn Radio
Check out our other streaming and audio guides
When you buy through our links, Insider may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
Podcasts offer a convenient way to catch up on news, sports, and special interests at home or on the go.
There are many apps with tons of podcasts you can listen to for free or with a paid subscription.
We recommend services like Audible, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and more.
If you’re hooked on a popular podcast or are searching for a new one, you aren’t alone. According to a January 2022 survey conducted by Edison Research, 50% of the population aged 12 to 34 are monthly podcast listeners.
Whether you’re on your daily run, commuting to work, or simply relaxing at home, a great podcast can take you on an audio journey through politics, entertainment, comedy, literature, and more. Podcasts cover all genres, so whether you’re seeking a news update or want to get into true crime, there’s likely something out there for you.
There are many services that offer access to a wide range of podcasts, including several free apps and a few subscription platforms that include exclusive programming. To help you get started, we’ve selected a few of the best apps you can use to listen to podcasts right now on a variety of devices. Read more about why you can trust our tech team to provide the best product and service recommendations.
Here are the best podcast apps:
Apple Podcasts
Apple Podcasts provides free access to over 30 million podcast episodes, along with the option to pay for premium shows.
Google Podcasts
Google Podcasts is a free app with a streamlined design that makes it easy to listen to popular podcasts.
Spotify
Spotify features several exclusive podcasts and a collection of curated, genre-specific titles.
Audible
Audible is best known for its audiobook library but the service also features a lineup of original podcasts.
Stitcher
Stitcher lets you listen to a selection of original podcasts with a wide range of playback options.
TuneIn Radio
TuneIn features a catalog of podcasts and access to a number of radio streams from around the world.
Apple Podcasts
ApplePodcastsScreenshot
Apple Podcasts
FREE FROM APPLE
Apple Podcasts offers free access to over 30 million podcast episodes, along with premium subscription options for certain shows.
Selection: Over 1 million shows and 30 million episodes
Price: Free, $1 and up monthly for select show subscriptions
Devices: iPhones and iPads with iOS 10.0 or later
Exclusive podcasts: Yes
Although the app is exclusive to iOS devices, Apple Podcasts is one of the best — and most comprehensive — free podcast services available. The platform includes over 30 million episodes and you can easily download your favorites for offline listening.
One of Apple Podcasts’ unique features is its ability to sync with Siri. This means you can talk to Siri to control playback and follow shows. You can also listen to Apple Podcasts through Amazon Alexa products if you link your accounts in the Alexa app.
The app also makes it easy to browse podcasts based on different genres and Apple-curated collections. It’s simple to find shows for a specific interest or see recommendations for “new and noteworthy” titles.
The search page even allows you to find podcasts by topic or by people mentioned within episodes via a show’s transcript. It’s important to note, however, that not every podcast has a transcript available.
Playback is easy to control with the option to rewind episodes by 15 seconds or fast-forward by 30 seconds. You can also play Apple Podcasts via Bluetooth from the app, adjust the audio’s speed, and set a sleep timer for when you want to pause. The app also allows you to increase the playback speed up to 2x.
Once you subscribe to a Podcast, the app notifies you when a new episode is out. You can also browse reviews from fellow Apple Podcasts listeners to help you gauge whether a title is a good fit.
In addition to free content, Apple recently added curated channels and premium subscription options for certain titles. You can now pay a monthly subscription to unlock exclusive shows or extra content. Creators can also add premium benefits like ad-free listening and early access. Most paid subscriptions come with a free trial before you’re charged for your first month.
Google Podcasts
GooglePodcastsScreenshot
Google Podcasts
FREE FROM GOOGLE
Google Podcasts is a free app with a simple design that makes it easy to listen to popular podcasts, but it lacks exclusive content.
Selection: Not specified
Price: Free
Devices: Web browser, iOS devices, and Android devices
Exclusive podcasts: No
Google Podcasts helps you find the best shows for your tastes with a homepage that directs you to popular podcasts based on genres and what’s trending. Google Podcasts is also pre-installed on Android products, making it the default podcast app for those devices.
The app hosts many of the same shows as Apple Podcasts and its user interface is inviting to newcomers and experts alike. If a show isn’t listed on Google Podcasts you can add it by entering its RSS feed into the platform.
Like other podcast apps, you can subscribe to shows and download them for offline listening. If you want to listen to a number of different podcasts in a certain order, you can start a queue. If you listened to a podcast and forgot to save it, you can go to the “History” tab to see log of what you’ve played.
Google Podcasts previously offered an “explore topics” section on an episode’s page with handy links to Google search results for keywords based on that title, but this feature appears to have been removed in 2021.
The app features a 30-second fast-forward option along with a 10-second rewind button, a sleep timer, and an option to “trim silence” on a show. You can also change the speed of an episode and share it with friends. Much like Apple Podcasts, transcripts are only available if they’re placed in an episode’s description.
Spotify
SpotifyPodcastsScreenshot
Spotify
$9.99 FROM SPOTIFY
Spotify features an array of curated, genre-specific collections of podcasts, including exclusive shows.
Selection: 3.2 million podcasts
Price: Free (with ads), $10 a month (ad-free)
Devices: Web browser, iOS, Android, media players, smart TVs, gaming consoles, and more
Exclusive podcasts: Yes
Though Spotify is primarily known as a music streaming service, the platform also offers podcasts, including several exclusive titles. Spotify does have a free option, but you need a paid subscription to get ad-free
streaming
and download support.
The app’s podcast homepage features curated collections and genres, including spotlights on some of its original podcasts you won’t find anywhere else. Some Spotify exclusive shows include “Renegades: Born in the USA,” “The Michelle Obama Podcast,” and “Living & Learning with Reba McEntire.”
Once you find a podcast you like, you can choose to “follow” it from the Spotify app. You can also save specific episodes of podcasts without following the show as a whole; these episodes go into a folder titled “Your Episodes.”
Similar to Apple Podcasts, you can listen to your favorite shows on Spotify through any Alexa-supported device, like the Amazon Echo. You can also seamlessly stream from one device to another on the same Wi-Fi network.
Much like Google, you can add episodes to your queue and listen to a number of different episodes in order. You can also make a playlist of new podcasts you want to check out.
Once you start playing a podcast, you can change its speed up to 3x, rewind or fast forward by 15 seconds, and set a sleep timer. Like other podcast apps, transcripts are only available if they’re placed in an episode’s description. Spotify allows creators to timestamp their descriptions as well, so you can click on the timestamp and jump to that point.
Spotify also recently launched a rating system where listeners can rate podcasts on a scale of one to five stars. The average rating is displayed on the podcast’s main page and is used to highlight popular shows.
Audible
AudibleScreenshot
Audible
$7.95 FROM AUDIBLE
Audible is an audiobook-centric app but it also features several original podcasts.
Selection: 100,000 podcasts
Price: Free, $8 a month (Audible Plus catalog), $15 a month (Audible Premium Plus)
Devices: Web player, iOS, Android, Windows 10 tablets, Fire tablets, and more
Exclusive podcasts: Yes
Read our Audible review
Audible is famous for its selection of audiobooks, but the Amazon-backed app also provides a number of podcasts, including Audible Original shows. The “Podcasts” category features a ton of content centered on comedy, relationships, tech, and more.
Once you pick a show, such as “Oprah’s Super Soul,” you can explore reviews from listeners. These reviews include star ratings for the host’s performance, the story, and the overall podcast. This helps make Audible one of the most user-friendly platforms for listener reviews.
When playing a podcast, you can skip ahead or go back by 30 seconds, connect to
Bluetooth
, and change the speed from 0.5x to 3.5x. You can also see how much time is left, switch to CarPlay for a minimalist interface, and select episodes via a list at the bottom of the screen.
Like other podcast platforms, Audible contains a sleep timer and allows for offline listening. Audible users are also able to add podcasts to their library to get them automatically downloaded when new episodes come out. As expected, Audible works seamlessly with Amazon’s Alexa-enabled devices.
Audible boasts a solid selection of original podcasts, including “Brooklyn North,” “The Messenger,” “Women Unlocked,” “In the Gap,” and “Soldiers of Science.” Audible’s free plan does not include all of the content available to subscribers, but there’s still a large selection of podcasts, including select Audible Originals, to listen to.
If you want a service that offers audiobooks and exclusive podcasts in one platform, an Audible Plus subscription offers good value.
Stitcher
StitcherScreenshot
Stitcher
$5.00 FROM STITCHER
Stitcher has a selection of original podcasts and a wide range of playback options.
Selection: Over 460,000 podcasts
Price: Free (with ads), $5 a month/$35 a year (ad-free)
Devices: Web player, iOS devices, Android devices, and more
Exclusives podcasts: Yes
Unlike Spotify and Audible, Stitcher puts its focus squarely on podcasts. Its layout is also one of the sleekest and most straightforward across podcast apps.
Once you sign in, you can check Stitcher’s top picks of the week along with curated collections of playlists celebrating the likes of women, Black Americans, independent artists, and more. Stitcher’s homepage also includes an assortment of podcasts from different genres.
There’s a number of Stitcher original shows, as well, including “Dark Arenas,” “Going Deep,” “The Resurr-Erection,” “Unspooled: Screen Test,” “MASCOTS,” and a podcast by “Reading Rainbow” host LeVar Burton. That said, some shows and episodes are exclusive to Stitcher’s Premium plan. Some popular shows, such as “How Did This Get Made,” only have their full backlogs available to Premium subscribers.
Premium also gives you early access to certain new episodes. Other perks for subscribers include ad-free listening and monthly giveaways. You can see what’s available on Stitcher Premium here.
One of Stitcher’s unique features is its array of playback options, as the app lets you set a sleep timer, skip episodes you’ve already heard, and adjust your rewind and fast forward times between five seconds and two minutes. You can also organize your podcast library into groups by topic.
You can also download new episodes automatically, get a list of shows you’ve downloaded or liked, and trim down on storage by deleting all downloads with one click.
Just like other popular podcast apps, transcripts are only available if the podcast’s creator tags them in the show’s description.
TuneIn Radio
TuneInRadioScreenshot
TuneIn
$10.00 FROM TUNEIN
TuneIn offers a number of radio streams from around the world in addition to its podcast catalog.
Selection: Over four million podcasts
Price: Free (with ads), $10 one-time payment (no visual ads/less audio ads), $10 a month (mostly ad-free)
Devices: Web player, iOS, Android, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Samsung smart TVs, Roku, Chromecast, Fire TV, and more
Exclusive podcasts: No
TuneIn’s primary focus may be radio but it also includes some popular podcasts. There are plenty of genres to explore via the app’s search tab. The service also curates a number of new podcasts via its homepage so you can easily navigate different collections.
Though ad-supported playback is free, mobile listeners can pay a one-time fee of $10 to download TuneIn Pro. Compared to the free version, TuneIn Pro removes certain commercials, like pre-roll ads and visual display ads. There’s also TuneIn Premium for $10 a month, which lets subscribers listen to music and select radio stations without any commercials.
TuneIn is compatible with Alexa-enabled devices, and subscribers to TuneIn Premium can easily stream select live sports, news, and talk shows with Alexa.
Once you start listening to an episode, you can fast forward or rewind by 30 seconds. You can also display a clock, set an alarm to go off at a certain time, or set a sleep timer. Additionally, you can like episodes by clicking the heart icon to favorite a show for later.
The TuneIn app also lets you switch to car mode. This is perfect for people who want to listen to podcasts on the go as you get a simplified menu to move between episodes.
If a podcast isn’t in TuneIn, you can add it to the app via the Custom URL button in your library. Similar to other podcast apps, you can only get transcripts of episodes if the creator makes them available in an episode’s description.
Check out our other streaming and audio guides
apple airpods
Apple
The best streaming services you can sign up for online
The best music streaming services you can subscribe to
The best student discounts on streaming services
The best true wireless earbuds
The best cheap headphones
The best streaming sticks and devices
The best smartphones
best podcast app 2022
In 2002, two years before the word “podcast” was coined, I stumbled on an iTunes station that sounded like an amateur talk radio show. A couple of friends got together each week, recorded an hour or more of their conversation, and posted it as The Great Radio Tiki Experiment. (The show is long gone, but archives of it are still available.) It was one of the earliest podcasts, and I was hooked.
It took another decade for the medium to catch on widely, and now it seems like anyone can create a podcast. Today the podcast market is so overrun with content that the only way to find shows you love, organize episodes you want to hear, and listen to them is to download a dedicated podcast app.
Recently, some Spotify users started looking for an alternative podcast player app after pleas from the medical community and music legends to stop Joe Rogan from spreading false or misleading ideas about COVID-19 went largely unanswered. If you do decide to leave Spotify behind, just know that the company does carry some exclusive podcasts, so you won’t necessarily be able to find all your favorite shows elsewhere. Then again, maybe you’ll discover new shows that are even better.
Tweet Share
This Day in History
Paid Content by Connatix
Having tested around 25 podcast players, I’ve picked nine that offer a great overall experience or something unique. Among these, I have a few personal favorites.
If you’re looking for a streamlined podcast player that isn’t littered with ads and recommendations, and you only have to pay for it once, my recommendation is Downcast for iPhone and DoggCatcher for Android. For a similar experience that’s cross-platform, Pocket Casts takes the cake. Overcast gets an honorable mention for having a loyal and dedicated following for years, and for having some of the best tools for organizing playlists.
What to Look for
Nearly all podcast apps have a few features in common. You should always be able to subscribe to a show so that new episodes appear in your podcast feed. You should be able to control how much content downloads to your device, either manually or by limiting the number of new episodes that download from each show. Some apps also let you set a limit on the amount of storage you’re willing to use.
Most apps have an audio boost feature that automatically enriches human voices. Many, but not all, have a dead air trimmer that, when enabled, automatically snips out silences that are longer than a breath or two.
Any podcast app should let you create playlists, for example, a list of the shows you listen to every morning or a separate list of the shows you save for the weekend.
Start Listening
Below you’ll find the best podcast apps, listed alphabetically, with images of the mobile apps, details on their prices, and a few words about what makes them unique or useful.
ADVERTISEMENT
Acast
Acast
Price: Free
Acast is both a podcast player app for listening to shows and one where creators can host their content and work with Acast’s team to earn money from their work. As a listener, you’ll find all your favorite podcasts, even if the creators don’t work directly with Acast. The app has an option to change your region when discovering podcasts. The options are Australia, Denmark, France, Germany, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and the US. When you change the regional selection, you see new recommendations of podcast shows that are relevant to or popular in those areas.
Android, iOS, macOS
Castro
Castro
Price: Free; $2.99 per month, $18.99 per year, $29.99 per year for 2-6 family members for Castro Plus
Castro is a free iOS podcast app that is fairly average if you use the free version. However, if you upgrade to the $18.99-per-year Castro Plus tier, you get the Sideload feature, which allows you to upload any content you want to play to the podcast player, from audiobooks to conference talks you find on the web. The rest of Castro’s features are average, including a button that trims dead air from your listening experience, a voice booster setting, the ability to customize settings for each show in your feed, and a dark mode. I don’t recommend the free version of this app; if you’re interested in a Plus account, you can try it for a week before you need to pay.
Available on iOS
DoggCatcher
DoggCatcher
Price: $2.99
If you’re looking for a podcast app for Android that you only have to pay for once (i.e., no subscriptions), DoggCatcher is your best bet. This app has a few standard features, such as variable playback speeds, offline playback, customizable playlists, and the ability for played episodes to automatically delete from your device. The real selling point, however, is that it’s a reliable podcast catcher and player app that doesn’t require a subscription for any special upsells, ad-removal, and so forth.
Available on Android
Downcast
Downcast
Price: $2.99 iOS, $4.99 macOS
Downcast is among the best podcast apps for iPhones and Macs. It also works with Apple Watch and CarPlay. You pay once for the apps and own them forever with no subscription fees. It’s easy to subscribe to podcasts, whether you browse or search for them or add them via a URL feed. Rich settings let you automatically start your favorite shows a set number of seconds in, or end them early, letting you bypass lengthy intros or closing ads. A list view contains shows that you’ve either subscribed to or downloaded, with details such as how many episodes are in your queue, when the most recent episode debuted, and an icon indicating if you are not subscribed to automatically download the next release. If you’re an Apple-only user and don’t need a web app, Downcast is one of the best podcast apps.
Available on iOS, macOS
Himalaya: Courses and Stories
Himalaya: Courses and Stories
Price: $11.99 per month, $69.99 per year for unlimited catalog
A newcomer to the podcast arena in 2019, Himalaya: Courses and Stories started out as a fairly standard podcast player app and service for podcast creators, but it now focuses on providing “inspirational” content with a bent toward learning and personal growth. Himalaya offers audio lessons and learning in five- to ten-minute bites. Some examples of show titles include How to Think Like a Lawyer, Change Your Day Job, and Mindfulness for Everyday Living. You can get Himalaya on Android, iOS, and the web. The app is owned by Chinese firm Ximalaya; some user reviews have noted that content restrictions are frequent outside the US, where some content may not be licensed.
Available on Android, iOS, Web
Luminary
Luminary
Price: Free; $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year for original shows
Luminary launched in early 2019 with a beautifully designed podcast catcher and player app, plus a controversial battle cry to eliminate ads from podcasts. Its pitch: Pay a monthly or annual fee (which has come down significantly since the original launch) to get access to original programs. The original shows include celebrities such as Trevor Noah, Lena Dunham, Roxane Gay, Karamo Brown, and others. The hitch for Luminary is that a few podcast networks are withholding key shows from Luminary’s platform, including The Daily by The New York Times.
Available on Android, iOS, Web
Overcast
Overcast
Price: Free; $9.99 per year for Premium
Overcast is an iOS-only app with a few unique features, the standout one being clip sharing. With clip sharing, you can tell someone about a podcast you love by sending them an audio or video clip of it up to one minute long. I also like that you can create playlists of podcast shows so that each new episode appears in the list (called Smart Playlist) or a playlist of specific episodes you want to hear. The free version of the app contains ads and has such significant feature limitations that I don’t recommend using the app unless you’re willing to pay $9.99 per year for Premium. Sadly, Overcast doesn’t give you a trial period for the upgrade either. The app is also compatible with Apple Watch.
Available on iOS
Pocket Casts
Pocket Casts
Price: Free; $0.99 per month, $9.99 per year for Plus
One of the most loved podcast player apps, Pocket Casts, is free for Android and iOS. It’s also available on Amazon Echo, Apple CarPlay, Apple Watch, Android Auto, and other platforms, some of which are restricted to Plus members (macOS, Windows, Web player). This app has a tidy interface and great features. It’s easy to see what’s in your subscription list as well as which episodes you’ve started, but haven’t finished. It has 0.1 increments for increasing or decreasing the audio speed, so you can gently adjust the pace. Paying plus members get not only access to some platforms that are off-limits to free users, but also cloud storage and exclusive app icons and themes.
Available on Android, iOS, macOS, Web, Windows
Stitcher
Stitcher
Price: Free; Premium $4.99 per month or $34.99 per year
Stitcher is not only a podcast app, but also a podcast network. Stitcher is home to more than 50 original shows, including Comedy Bang! Bang!, How Did This Get Made, The Dream, The Sporkful, and others. Stitcher doesn’t have the most robust feature set or settings for playing podcast episodes, but it has the basics, such as a sleep timer, skip forward or back buttons at different time intervals, and several options for playback speed. Additionally, you can listen nearly everywhere using the apps for Android and iOS, as well as a web player. You can also play Stitcher content on an Amazon Alexa device, as well as in cars using CarPlay, Android Auto, or directly from a smart audio system. A Premium membership costs $4.99 per month or $34.99 for a year.
Available on Android, iOS, Web
Conclusion
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Check out other publications to gain access to more digital resources if you are just starting out with Flux Resource.
Also contact us today to optimize your business(s)/Brand(s) for Search Engines